Dhaka, Feb 3 Pakistan started their campaign superbly as defending champions of team squash when they hammered host Bangladesh 3-0 in their opening match at the 11th South Asian Games here at Dhaka Club on Wednesday.

Pakistan's young trio of Farhan Mehboob, Farhan Zaman and Mansoor Zaman proved too hot for an inexperienced Bangladeshi team. Farhan took just 15 minutes to beat Maqsood Rana 11-1, 11-7, 11-8, while Farhan, the nephew of squash legend Qamar Zaman, had an easy sailing with a 11-5, 11-6, 11-4 victory. Experienced Mansoor Zaman completed the rout when he blew away local boy Saeed in 12 minutes 12-4, 12-4, 11-6.

Top two teams after the round robin league matches will qualify to play for the gold medal. Earlier in the individual event, Amir Atlas Khan beat countrymen Farhan Mehboob as Pakistan won both the gold and silver medals.—APP